Multiple bill compartment wallet

ABSTRACT

A wallet including a single strip of material including a plurality of oppositely folded and integrally attached panels which extend in directions opposite the adjacent panels to provide a series of outwardly opening paper currency receiving compartments. A closure, integral with at least one of the panels, is detachably coupled to one of the endmost panels in the stack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a multiple compartment wallet and moreparticularly to a wallet formed with a single strip of material having aplurality of oppositely opening compartments and a pair of closures fordetachably, selectively closing the compartments.

[0003] 2. Background of the Invention

[0004] Wallets have been provided heretofore, such as that illustratedin U.S. Pat. No. 2,455,515, issued to Samuel Miller on Dec. 7, 1948, andU.S. Pat. No. 3,266,544, issued to B. L. Snyder on Aug. 16, 1966, eachof which discloses the concept of a plurality of compartments forholding currency of differing denominations.

[0005] The prior art wallets are generally fabricated from a pluralityof individual panels which are assembled in stacked relation. Thestacking and assembly of individual panels adds to the expense ofmanufacture. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a new and novel multi-compartment wallet having a plurality ofstacked panels that are integral.

[0006] For various reasons, it is desirable to have the capacity todetachably close selected compartments of the wallet. Accordingly, it isanother object of the present invention to provide a new and novelwallet including new and novel closures for precluding the inadvertentseparation of adjacent stacked panels forming money receivingcompartments.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide awallet of the type described which includes a pair of end panels onopposite ends of a plurality of intermediate panels and a closure on oneof the end panels detachably coupled to the opposite end panel toinhibit spreading movement of the end panels.

[0008] It has been found desirable to sometimes fasten one of theintermediate panels to one of the end panels. Accordingly, it is yetanother object of the present invention to provide a multiplecompartment wallet of the type described which includes a pair of endpanels, a plurality of intermediate panels sandwiched between the endpanels, and a closure coupled to one of the intermediate panelsdetachably coupled to one of the end panels.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a walletof the type described including a closure flap integrally with, butpartially cut from, one of the intermediate panels and including acooperating fastener mechanism on the flap and one of the end panels fordetachably coupling one of the intermediate panels to one of the endpanels.

[0010] A still further object of the present invention is to provide amulti-compartment wallet of the type described including a pair of newand novel closures.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide aone-piece multi-compartment wallet of the type described, one of whichincludes an integral closure extension tab of one of the end panelsdetachably coupled to the other end panel and a second closure which isintegrally coupled to one of the intermediate panels and detachablycoupled to the other end panel.

[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide aone-piece multi-compartment wallet of the type described in which thesecond closure is integral with the intermediate panel next adjacent tothe one end panel having the integral closure tab.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newand novel one-piece multi-compartment wallet formed from a singleelongate sheet which is alternately oppositely folded along its lengthat a plurality of folded junctions to provide a plurality of stackedsheet sections and cooperating fasteners on one of the upstream sheetsections detachably coupled to the endmost downstream sheet section.

[0014] These and other objects of the present invention will become morereadily apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A wallet comprising a one-piece elongated sheet of materialextending in a zig-zag course to provide a plurality of sheet sectionsintegrally joined to adjacent sheet sections at a plurality of foldedjunctions to define a plurality of open-ended bill compartments whichare open-ended alternately in opposite directions for receiving stacksof folded currency therein; the plurality of sheet sections include twoopposite end sheet sections and a plurality of intermediate sheetsections sandwiched there-between; and detachably coupled cooperatingfastener mechanism on one of the upstream sheet sections detachably andthe endmost down stream sheet section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention may more readily be understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a wallet constructed accordingto the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wallet illustrated in FIG. 1 in arolled out flattened condition prior to assembly as illustrated in FIG.1;

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] A wallet, generally designated 10, constructed according to thepresent invention, comprises an elongate single sheet, generallydesignated 12, of flexible leather having an upstream end, generallydesignated 11, and a down stream end, generally designated 13. Theelongate sheet or strip 12 includes a plurality of longitudinallydisposed integral panels or sheet subsections 20, 22, 24 and 26. Thepanels 20, 22, 24 and 26 include upstream ends 20A, 22A, 24A and 26A,respectively, and down stream ends 20B, 22B, 24B and 26B, respectively.As illustrated, the down-stream end 20B, 22B and 24B of each panel 20,22, 24, respectively, is integrally coupled to the upstream end 22A, 24Aand 26A, respectively, of an immediately adjacent down-stream panel 22,24 and 26, respectively, via fold junctions 14, 16 and 18, respectively.When asembled, the upstream front endmost panel 20 and the down-streamrearmost end panel 26 are disposed on opposite ends of the wallet 10 andsandwiched there-between are the intermediate panels 22 and 24. Thesheet 12 when folded to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 extends in azig zag course.

[0020] Each of the fold junctions 14, 16 and 18 are held together in thefolded positions illustrated in FIG. 1 via a U-shaped channel, generallydesignated 28, having a base 29 mounting a pair of confronting leg 30and 32 which grip or clamp opposite sides of the fold junctions 14, 16and 18 and hold the fold junctions in the positions illustrated inFIG. 1. The channels 28 are typically formed of bendable metal such thatthe legs 30 and 32 are clamped to opposite sides of the folds 14, 16 and18 to hold them in the positions illustrated in FIG. 1 clamping theconfronting upstream portion, such as 22A, to the down-stream portion20B of the adjacent upstream panel 12. The channel bases 29 are spacedfrom the fold junctions 14, 16 and 18 to provide transverse opening orpassages 34 laterally outwardly beyond the fold junctions 14, 16 and 18.Each transverse passage 34 receives receiving one leg 36 of a U-shapedor hairpin shaped money clip, generally designated 38, that has anintegral opposing confronting leg 39 disposed laterally inwardly beyondthe fold junctions 14, 16 and 18.

[0021] The confronting panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 cooperate, when foldedto the positions illustrated in FIG. 1, to define longitudinally spacedapart, transversely outwardly opening, bill receiving compartments 21,23 and 25, respectively, which are open ended alternately in oppositedirections for receiving stacks of folded paper currencies in differentdenominations such as, for example, $1.00, $5.00 and $10.00. Thecurrency is received between the legs 39 of the money clips, which arereceived in the bill receiving compartments 21, 23 and 25, and theconfronting folds 14, 16 and 18 to detachably hold the folded currencythere-between. The money clip 38 is constructed of yieldable material toallow the leg 39 to spring outwardly relative to the opposing money clipleg 36 to receive and hold any selected number of folded bills.

[0022] The sheet 12 includes a first down-stream closure designated 40,having an upstream end 40A integrally formed with the down-stream end26B of panel 26 to provide an extension thereof which extends around thenext succeeding panel 24 and the remaining panels 20 and 22 and includesa terminal end 40B which will be disposed in confronting relation withthe upstream end 20A of the upstream panel 20. The down-stream terminalend 40B mounts a male closure button fastener 42 which is detachablyreceived in a complimentary formed female fastener 44 fixed to one face47 of the upstream panel 20.

[0023] A second closure flap 48 is provided on the intermediate panel 24next adjacent the down-stream end panel 26. The closure flaps 48 isformed by a U-shaped cut out or opening 46 provided in the panel 24along all but one end 49 which remains integral with the panel 24. Thesecond closure flap 48 includes a free terminal end 51 which is ofsufficient length as to pass around the opposite ends of the nextsucceeding upstream panel 22 and the endmost upstream panel 20 to bedisposed in confronting relation with the down-stream end 20B of theface 47 of panel 20. The terminal end 21 mounts a female fastener 50which is detachably coupled to a complimentary formed male fastener 52fixed to the face 47 of the upstream panel 20.

THE OPERATION

[0024] To utilize the wallet, the male fastener 42 of flap 40 isdetached from the female fastener 46 of flap 12 to provide access tomoney compartments 21 and 25. Folded bills of different denominationscan be placed in compartments 21 and 25 and received by the bail oryieldable leg 39 of the money clip disposed in compartments 21 and 25.If access is desired to compartment 23, the second fastener 50 on flap48 is detached from the male fastener 52 to allow access to thecompartment 23 and money held by the yieldable leg 39 of the money clip.

[0025] After money is suitably inserted into the compartments or removedtherefrom, the flaps 40 and 48 are again restored to positions in whichthe male fasteners 42 and 52 are detachably received by the femalefasteners 46 and 50 respectively.

[0026] It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matterare in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of theprinciples of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in anyway, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made invarious elements to achieve like results without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:
 1. A paper currency storage wallet comprising: azig-zag strip of material including a plurality of flexible panels, eachof said panels having an front upstream end and a rear down-stream endjoined to a rear down-stream end and a front upstream end, respectively,of an immediately preceding upstream panel and an immediately succeedingdown-stream adjacent panel, respectively; each of said flexible panelsextending down-stream in a direction opposite the down-stream directionof each of said immediately preceding upstream panel and each of saidimmediately succeeding down-stream panels to provide a series oflongitudinally spaced-apart, transversely outwardly opening currencyreceiving compartments; alternate ones of said currency receivingcompartments opening in opposite transverse directions; a plurality ofmoney clips provided at the junctions of said front upstream ends andsaid down-stream ends of said panels; and closure means, integral withat least one of said panels, for detachably coupling at least said onepanel to another down-stream one of said panels other than the panelimmediately next succeeding said one panel.
 2. The wallet set forth inclaim 1 wherein said one panel comprises the first upstream one of saidpanels and said another down-stream one of said panels comprises thelast down-stream one of said panels; said closure means comprises anintegral extension on the upstream terminal end of said first upstreamone of said panels folded around the remaining panels and disposed inconfronting relation with said last down-stream one of said panels; saidintegral extension and said last down-stream one of said panelsincluding first and second cooperating fastener means detachably coupledtogether.
 3. The wallet set forth in claim 2 wherein said closure meansadditionally comprises a tab having one free terminal end partiallysevered from one of said intermediate panels between said first upstreamone of said panels and said last down-stream one of said panels and asecond opposite end integral with panel one intermediate panel.
 4. Thewallet set forth in claim 3 wherein said tab free terminal end isdisposed in confronting relation with said last down-stream one of saidpanels; said closure means comprising cooperating fastener means on saidlast down-stream one of said panels and said free terminal end of saidtab detachably coupled together.
 5. The wallet set forth in claim 4wherein said intermediate panel comprises the panel immediately adjacentsaid first upstream one of said panels.
 6. The wallet set forth in claim5 wherein said one end of said tab is upstream of said forward end ofsaid tab.
 7. The wallet set forth in claim 1 wherein said zig-zag stripof material is a single unitary piece and said front upstream ends andsaid rear down-stream ends of said adjacent panels are integral.
 8. Thewallet set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure means, integral with atleast one of said panels, comprises first and second fastener means onthe last down-stream one of said panels; an integral extension flap onthe said zig-zag strip of material integral with the upstream end of thefirst upstream one of said panels, said flap having a terminal enddisposed in confronting relation with said last down-stream one of saidpanels; and third fastener means on said terminal end of said flap,formed complemental to said first fastener means, detachably coupled tosaid first fastener means.
 9. The wallet set forth in claim 8 whereinsaid closure means further comprises a tab partially severed from thepanel next adjacent said first upstream panel but integrally coupledthereto along a portion thereof and including a terminal end disposed inconfronting relation with said last down-stream one of said panels; andfourth fastener means formed complemental to said second fastener means,on said terminal end of said tab detachably coupled to said secondfastener means.
 10. A multiple fold paper currency storage walletcomprising: a plurality of inter-coupled, confronting panels including apair of end panels and a plurality of intermediate panels sandwichedbetween said end panels; each of said plurality of intermediate panelshaving one end coupled to an adjacent end of an adjacent confrontingpanel on one side thereof and an opposite end coupled to an adjacent endof an adjacent confronting panel on the opposite side thereof; one ofsaid end-most panels having first fastener means thereon; one of saidintermediate panels having a tab cut therefrom but integrally coupledthereto along a portion thereof and extending outwardly and around saidplurality of panels; and second fastener means formed complementally tosaid first fastener means on said tab for detachably coupling said oneintermediate panel to said one end panel.
 11. The wallet set forth inclaim 10 including an extension flap integral with the other of said endpanels extending outwardly around said intermediate panels; andadditional fastener means on said extension flap for detachably matingwith said fastener means on said one end panel.
 12. A wallet comprising:a one-piece elongate sheet of material extending in a zig-zag course toprovide a plurality of sheet sections integrally joined to adjacentsheet sections at a plurality of folded junctions to define a pluralityof open-ended bill compartments which are open-ended alternately inopposite directions for receiving separate stacks of folded currencytherein; said plurality of sheet sections including two opposite endsheet sections and a plurality of intermediate sheet sections sandwichedbetween said two opposite end sections; and cooperating fastener meanson said two opposite end sheet sections for detachably coupling said twoopposite end sheet sections together to preclude separation thereof. 13.The wallet set forth in claim 12 wherein one of said end sheet sectionsis of a pre-determined length and the other of said end sheet sectionsis of greater pre-determined length greater than said pre-determinedlength to provide a terminal closure flap which extends around saidintermediate sheet sections and includes a terminal end which confrontssaid one end sheet section.
 14. The wallet set forth in claim 13 whereinsaid cooperating fastener means is provided on said one end sheetsection and said terminal end.
 15. The wallet set forth in claim 12including additional cooperating fastener means on said one end sheetsection and one of said intermediate sheet sections for detachablycoupling said one intermediate sheet section to said one end sheetsection to preclude separation thereof.
 16. The wallet set forth inclaim 12 including a U-shaped spring clip having a base joined to a pairof legs, one of said legs extending between adjacent sheet sections foryieldably receiving bills of paper currency and yieldably detachablysecuring said bills between adjacent sub-sections.
 17. The wallet setforth in claim 12 wherein one of said intermediate sheet sectionsincludes a fastener portion partially severed therefrom but integrallycoupled thereto and of such length as to pass around and overly one ofsaid end sheet sections.
 18. The wallet set forth in claim 17 includingcooperating fastener means on said fastener portion and said one endsheet section detachably coupled together.
 19. A wallet comprising: aone piece sheet of material folded over on itself in opposite directionsalong its length to provide a plurality of sheet sub-sections joined toadjacent sheet sub-sections along folded edge portions; said pluralityof sheet sub-sections including a pair of end sheet sub-sections and aplurality of intermediate sheet sub-sections sandwiched there-between;and cooperating fastener means coupled to one of said end sheetsub-section and to one of said intermediate sheet sub-sections fordetachably securing said one end sheet sub-section to said oneintermediate sub-sheet section and preclude spreading movement thereof.20. A wallet comprising: a stack of sheets, having opposite ends andopposite faces, of pre-determined length and width disposed in stackedrelation; one end of each sheet being coupled to one adjacent end of asheet adjacent one of its faces; the other end of each sheet beingcoupled to the other end of a sheet adjacent the other one of its faces;said stack of sheets including a pair of opposite end sheets and aplurality of intermediate sheets disposed there-between; one of saidintermediate sheets having a flap cut therefrom which flap remainsintegral with said one intermediate sheet along only one end of saidflap; said flap including a free terminal end, opposite said one end ofsaid flap, which extends around and confronts one of said end sheets;and cooperating fastener means on said flap and said one end sheetdetachably coupled together.
 21. The wallet set forth in claim 20wherein said end sheets each include a terminal end extending in thesame direction; a closure tab integrally coupled to the terminal end ofthe other of said end sheets and extending around and disposed inconfronting relation with said terminal end of said one end sheet; andadditional cooperating fastener secure on said tab and said terminal endof said one end sheet detachably coupled together.
 22. The wallet setforth in claim 21 wherein said one intermediate sheet comprises theintermediate sheet immediately adjacent said other end sheet.
 23. Thewallet set forth in claim 22 wherein said flap is cut from said oneintermediate sheet adjacent an end of said one end sheet opposite saidfree terminal end.
 24. A multi-compartment wallet having a plurality ofseparate compartments for storing a plurality of paper currencies ofdifferent denominations, said wallet comprising: a single sheet offlexible material including first and second opposite end panels, and aplurality of integral intermediate panels disposed between andintegrally coupled to, said first and second end panels in a zig-zagfashion to define a plurality of open-ended currency receivingcompartments there-between, alternate ones of said compartments beingopen-ended in opposite directions; one of said intermediate panelsincluding a closure flap cut therefrom and coupled to said oneintermediate panel along only one end of said flap and having anopposite terminal free end disposed in confronting relation with one ofsaid end panels; and fastener means detachably coupling said terminalfree end and said one end panel.
 25. A wallet comprising: an elongatestrip of flexible material, having front and rear ends, folded along itslength at a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart junctions toprovide a series of successive integral panels between said junctions;each of said panels having front and rear ends integrally coupled to therear and front ends, respectively, of each immediately preceding paneland each immediately succeeding panel, respectively, in said series ofsuccessive integral panels; each of said panels extending down-stream ina direction opposite the down-stream direction of each of saidimmediately, preceding and immediately succeeding panels to provide aseries of longitudinally spaced apart, alternately oppositelytransversely outwardly opening currency receiving compartments; a moneyclip mounted on said strip at each of said junctions; each of said clipsincluding a portion extending into one of said compartments fordetachably receiving paper currency between said portion and saidjunctions; and closure means for detachably coupling at lease one ofsaid panels to one of the remaining panels other than the panelsimmediately preceding and succeeding said one panel.
 26. The wallet setforth in claim 25 wherein said closure means comprises a strip of saidmaterial integral with said one panel which extends around at least aportion of said remaining panels and includes a terminal end disposed infronting relation with the last one of said panels at said rear end ofsaid series of panels.
 27. The wallet set forth in claim 26 includingcooperating fastener means on said terminal end of said last one of saidpanels for detachably coupling said one panel to said last panel. 28.The wallet set forth in claim 27 wherein said strip of material is cutfrom said one panel along all but one end of said strip.
 29. The walletset forth in claim 28 the first end most panel at said front end of saidseries of panels is longer than the other panels, to provide an integralterminal extended closure extension; said strip of material comprisessaid terminal extended end of the first end most panel of said series ofpanels.
 30. The wallet set forth in claim 29 including cooperatingfasteners means on said integral terminal extended end and said lastpanel for detachably coupling said first and last panels.
 31. The walletset forth in claim 30 wherein said fastener means comprises a strip ofmaterial cut from the second panel of said series of panels along allbut one end thereof said strip of material including a terminal endconfronting said last one of said panels; and including additionalcooperating fastener means on said terminal end of said strip ofmaterial and said second panel detachably coupled together.
 32. Thewallet set forth in claim 31 wherein said one end of said strip isupstream of said terminal end of said strip.
 33. The wallet set forth inclaim 32 wherein said closure means comprises an integral extension onthe first one of said panels adjacent said front end whereby said firstpanel has a length grater than the length of the remaining panels toallow said integral extension on said first one of said panels toconfront the last one of said panels at said rear end; said closuremeans comprises first and second cooperating detachably coupled fastenermeans on said integral extension and said last panel, respectively,. 34.A multiple fold paper currency storage wallet comprising: a plurality ofinter-coupled adjacent, confronting panels with confronting faces toform a stack, said confronting panels including a pair of end panels anda plurality of intermediate panels sandwiched there-between, each ofsaid intermediate panels having one end coupled to an adjacent end of anadjacent confronting panel on one side thereof and an opposite endcoupled to an adjacent end of an adjacent panel confronting the oppositeside thereof; one of said end panels at one end of said stack of panelshaving first fastener means; the other of said end panels at the otherend of said stack having an integral extension flap for folding oversaid one end most panel; second fastener means on said extension formedcomplemental to said first fastener means for detachably coupling saidextension flap to said one end most panel.
 35. The multiple fold papercurrency storage device set forth in claim 34 wherein one of said panelsbetween said first and second end panels includes a tab partiallysevered from said one panel to provide a free terminal end; a thirdfastener on said first endmost panel; and a fourth fastener on said tabformed complemental to said third fastener for detachably coupling saidone panel to said first endmost panel.
 36. The multiple fold papercurrency storage device set forth in claim 35 including a U-shaped moneyclip having a base mounting a pair of legs; one of said legs beingsandwiched between adjacent ends of adjacent panels which are coupledtogether; the other of said legs being received between said adjacentpanels for receiving folded currency.
 37. The multiple fold papercurrency storage device set forth in claim 34 comprising border securingmeans for securing adjacent ends of adjacent panels together to preventspreading movement thereof.
 38. The multiple fold paper currency storagedevice set forth in claim 37 wherein said border securing meanscomprises a U-shaped member having a base mounting a pair of legs whichare in clamping engagement with said adjacent ends of said adjacentpanels which are coupled together.
 39. The multiple fold paper currencystorage device set forth in claim 37 wherein said border securing meansincludes a tubular portion joined to said legs and having a passagetherein; and further including a currency holding U-shaped spring cliphaving a base mounting a pair of legs which are in spaced apartrelation; one of said legs being received by said passage.
 40. Themultiple fold paper currency storage device set forth in claim 37wherein said plurality of inter-coupled panels comprise one integralcontinuous sheet of material.